Creative Industries Funding Consultation and Network Meeting
You are invited to attend a consultation event on Thursday 27th November 2025 to help shape the final bid for £25 million for creative industries across the West of England. This is an opportunity for North Somerset creatives to influence funding outcomes for the local area.
In January 2025, the West of England was named one of six priority regions to benefit from the government’s £150 million Creative Places Growth Fund. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has secured £25 million through the fund to help supercharge economic growth, support technology adoption, improve access to finance, reduce skills gaps and boost international trade.
Spanning three years from April 2026, the fund will support place-based initiatives designed to drive inclusive growth across the region.
Creative Places Growth Fund: Test and Refine Session
The Creative Places Growth Fund: Test and Refine session will take place from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at The Hive, 6 Beaufighter Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS24 8EE. Creative practitioners, businesses and organisations will have the opportunity to review proposals developed to date and provide input to help refine and strengthen plans for the funding. The session will explore key themes including access to finance, sustainability, inclusion and accessibility, and skills development. Full details and tickets are available through the Creative Places Growth Fund event page.
North Somerset Creatives Network Meeting
Following the consultation, the North Somerset Creatives Network meeting will take place at 12 midday in the same venue. This hybrid meeting will also be available online via Teams, with access details provided to registered attendees ahead of the meeting. You are welcome to stay for the network meeting after the consultation event or join online if you cannot attend in person.
The November network meeting will focus on creative education and Arts Award. Sarah Hughes from Arts Award will help demystify what Arts Award is all about, how to build a creative offer with an Arts Award Centre in the region and how to become an Arts Award Advisor yourself. Super Culture will also present case studies of their work with local schools, alongside updates on the North Somerset Creative Educators Network and how to get involved. There will be time for questions and for attendees to share current updates or opportunities with the network.
You can register for the North Somerset Creatives Network meeting on Eventbrite.
Venue Information
The Hive is situated at 6 Beaufighter Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS24 8EE. Accessible parking is available at the front of the building. There are large electronic doors into the reception area on the ground floor from the car park and the building has a lift. The accessible toilet is located in the corridor on the first floor. Travel information by car, bus, train, walking and cycling is available on The Hive website.
For any questions, please contact Natalie at natalieskidmore@triggerstuff.co.uk.
